The worst of the weekend flooding may be behind us — at least for now — but drivers are continuing to detour around high water throughout the southern part of Bartholomew County.
“Everything has crested,” Bartholomew County Emergency Management Director Shannan Hinton said Monday.
The last river to crest was East Fork White River in Columbus, Hinton said. It crested at 11.72 feet early Monday, and had already dropped to 11.5 feet by 9:30 a.m., she said.
The following roadways were listed as closed due to high water on Monday:
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State Road 11 in the Garden City area, south of State Road 46
Southern Crossing
County Roads 150E and 175E, when they intersect with Southern Crossing
Sections of County Road 400N.
Jonesville Road, between County roads 450S and 550S
Gates on County Road 800S
Tellman Camp Road
Hinton said Southern Crossing and State Road 11 in Garden City could remain closed through this morning.
While there is a possibility of more rain Wednesday, Hinton anticipates it will be light enough not to add more flooding problems for motorists. She was optimistic that ground that is oversaturated with water will substantially dry out by the end of this week.
Hinton says all local river levels are expected to be well below flood stage by Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
However, she said she doesn’t know how much rain is forecast for Friday, so she can’t guarantee flooding won’t return.
“We’ll just have to wait to see what happens,” Hinton said.
Emergency management officials and law enforcement are strongly urging motorists not to drive around “road closed” signs or move them.
That practice, which has resulted in a number of citations, caused a water rescue along South Gladstone Street on Saturday.
At around 11:18 p.m. Sunday, a Columbus woman who drove around a “road closed” and a “high water” sign had to be rescued from the roof of her SUV after flood waters swept the vehicle about 20 yards off the south side of Tellman Camp Road near Indianapolis Drive, said Capt. Dave Steinkoenig of the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.
When first responders arrived on the scene, the flood waters were just below the windows of the SUV, which was completely full of water, he said.
An air boat was deployed to approach the vehicle and help the woman from the roof of the SUV.
“On average, during each flooding event, we have the air boat out three to seven times,” Steinkoenig said”“Nine out of 10 times, it is for people driving through high water.”
The woman refused medical treatment, but was fined $500 for disregarding a road closed sign, Steinkoenig said.
“Based on the fact that she disregarded the road closed sign, that’s why the citation was issued,” he said.
Hinton advised motorists to obey warning signs.
“You are not only putting yourself at risk, but also the first responders who will need to rescue you,” Hinton said.
